General Information

Egypt

Egypt is the land of the Pharaohs, the Pyramids and the Sphinx; a million square kilometers of oases and deserts, bordered by the blue Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the silvery green waters of the Nile. Everywhere you travel here gives you a great sense of antiquity.

Millions of visitors come to Egypt every year to discover the unique attractions which abound in every part of the country. It is an easy country to visit as it is an important hub for both international air and sea traffic. Holiday areas have excellent tourist amenities, services and recreational facilities, offering something for everyone - from five-star luxury hotels to modest guest houses. Egypt’s coastline stretches for many miles and is a paradise for sun worshippers. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba have beautiful beaches with spectacular coral reefs teeming with colourful fish.

Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. No visit to Egypt is complete without a trip through this welcoming city which literally teems with life. This is a place where exciting elements of Africa and the Orient meet the sophistication of Europe, where old and new exist in harmony. A visit to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square will help set the scene in terms of the country’s history. This museum houses the fi nest collection of artifacts in Egypt including the treasures of Tutankhamun preserved for over 3,000 years, as well as a wealth of Pharaonic, Islamic and Byzantine Art and sculpture. One of the most spectacular features of the museum is the newly opened Hall of Mummies. This hall is a superb example of state-of-the-art display technology with carefully planned lighting, glass display cabinets and a highly sensitive air conditioning system. The identity of each mummy is shown, together with a brief history indicating its age and the dynasty to which it belonged .

The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs to preserve the bodies of their dead kings because they believed in reincarnation and immortality. The pyramids of Giza are the most famous of Egypt’s sights but form only a small part. These three great fourth-dynasty pyramids, the surrounding tombs, the Sphinx and the step pyramids at Saqqara are only part of a series which stretches out over a distance of 70 km as far as El Fayom.

From the pyramids, you have a view of the Nile Valley from west to east. The reverse view can be obtained by going up to Saladin’s Citadel in the Mokattam Hills. There you can also see the Mohammed Ali and Suliman mosques, both in Byzantine style, the Ommayyad mosques and the Guahara Palace museum containing many of King Farouk’s extravagances.

For those interested in Islamic art, the Islamic Arts Museum in Midan al Khalq is regarded as the largest museum of its type in the Middle East. It houses 80,000 rare objects from the dawn of Islam up to the end of the Ottoman period. Its collection of rare manuscripts includes the largest copy of the Koran in Kufic script written on gazelle skin.

Cairo by Night

One of the finest evening entertainments is the Sound and Light show at the pyramids - these and the Sphinx are illuminated by projected lights while a narrator tells the story of the ancient Pharaohs. Cairo has no shortage of all the usual nightlife attractions and has a marvelous selection of restaurants, clubs, casinos, theatres and cinemas.

Banking hours

Sunday - Thursday 08.30 – 14.00 hours. Government Offices: open from 09.00 – 14.00 hours every day except Fridays and National Holidays.

Climate

Egypt is situated between the Mediterranean and the 23rd parallel north of the Equator, and is sunny for all but a few days of the year. Rain falls on less than 40 days a year and then only in a few places. Within Egypt, there is the contrast between the coastal Mediterranean climate and the hot dryness of the interior. In the desert areas there is a sharp contrast between the temperatures during the day and the night.

Temperature

The table below shows the local daytime temperature range for the year (°C):

Currency

The unit of currency is the Egyptian Pound (LE or EGP), which is divided into 100 Piasters (PT). Bank notes: 200 LE, 100 LE, 50 LE, 20 LE, 10 LE, 5 LE, 1 LE, 50 PT and 25 PT. Coins: 20 PT, 10 PT, 5 PT. At the moment, USD 1.00 is worth about LE 5.3 and EUR 1.00 around LE 8.3.

Electricity Supply

The electricity supply in Egypt is 220V, and sockets take the standard continental European dual round-pin plug.

Eating out

In Egypt, dining out can range from stand-up sandwich bars to luxurious five-course meals. There are a variety of places to eat while you are in Cairo: local restaurants, tourist restaurants that have local flavours but cater to the tourist market, and fivestar restaurants in the hotels, where you can choose from Western or Egyptian cuisine. The larger cities like Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor etc. even have western-style fastfood chains like McDonalds and KFC. In the cities both the food and water are safe although the change in your diet may produce short-term gastrointestinal upsets. Alcoholic drinks are not widely available, other than at duty-free shops, five-star hotels and tourist restaurants.

Health

No vaccinations are currently needed for visitors to Egypt. During your stay, it is preferable to drink only bottled water and to avoid eating from street stalls. Take care in the sun, as you can underestimate its strength due to the cool coastal breezes and lack of humidity. Drink plenty of water if you are outside during the day.

Insurance

The XIXth Regional Congress of the ISBT, Eastern Mediterranean & Europe accepts no liability for any personal injury, loss or damage of property belonging to or additional expenses incurred by congress participants either during the congress or as result of delays, strikes or any other circumstances. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.

Language

The official Congress language will be English. Simultaneous interpretation in Arabic might be provided in the plenary sessions.

Passports and Visas

In the airplane, immigration forms will be handed out. These must be filled in and presented, along with passports, to the immigration officer at the airport.

Visitors to Egypt must have a valid passport and visa. A passport must be valid for six months after the day of entry. All nationalities require tourist visas for Egypt. Europeans, Americans and Australians can purchase these on arrival at the airport. Other nationalities should check with their local Embassies for latest regulations.

Visa Cost: Euro 15.00 per person, and can be obtained at the Airport.

Shopping in Cairo

Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife activities. Shopping ranges from the famous KHAN EL KHALILI SOUK (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions like city stars mall. Shops are usually open from 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM, except in the summer, when they stay open until 12.00 PM.

As for shopping, apart from many fi ne stores in the city center and all the usual shops that one would expect, the one place that all visitors head for is Khan El-Khalili, a warren of booths and boutiques selling every imaginable item of clothing and ornament Of special value are jewelry, spices, copper, rugs and mother-of-pearl inlaid work. Those with a more practiced eye may also come across genuine antique bargains.

Tipping

It’s customary to tip often in Egypt and you may want to think about carrying small bills in your pocket for this purpose. Visitors would normally consider tipping their guide, driver on tours, hotel staff, and waiters in restaurants. Service charges of between 10% and 12% are always included in the bill. However, an extra tip to the serving staff of approximately 5% to 10% is normal.